Scabiosa Perfection Blue - Caucasian scabious Seeds

As its name suggests, Scabiosa caucasica Perfection Blue also called Caucasian scabious, is a Caucasian species displaying a perfect shade of lavender-blue that also happens to be a sturdy, reliable perennial. Throughout the summer, it casts out long, solid stems crowned with an inflorescence made up of crumpled petals, encircling a more pinkish dome studded with tiny, precious flowers. This tall variety is perfect for cut flowers, brings a lot of grace to cottage garden beds and a light touch to bolder blooms. Really easy to grow in the sun, in ordinary, well-drained soil. 

Caucasian scabious is a plant of the family Caprifoliaceae, or Dipsaceae, that is adapted to the harsh climate of the Caucasus Mountains, Northeastern Turkey and Northern Iran. The variety 'Perfection Blue', from which it originates, is distinguished by its tall growth habit and large inflorescences which make excellent cut flowers. This bushy perennial reaches a height of 60 cm when in flower, and a width of 35 cm. Its foliage is deciduous, lanceolate and while the basal leaves are simple, the other leaves are divided, lobed and are green to glaucous. Flowering takes place throughout the summer, from June to September. The tall, slender and sturdy stems bear inflorescences in the form of flower heads measuring 8 cm in diameter. They consist of a central disc of tiny pinkish lavender flowers, surrounded by a collar of crumpled, bright lavender blue ligulate flowers. The nectar-rich and melliferous blossoms give way to fruits containing only one seed.

This star of gardens of the past has been somewhat neglected these last years but has crept back into the spotlight with intense, new colours such as those displayed by the Perfection Blue variety. They are graceful, elegant and far from being austere as their English name "mournful widow" would suggest. Caucasian scabious are an excellent choice for flowerbeds but also for making bouquets. Combine them with garden pink, love-in-a-mist, cosmos and cornflowers...